OP0285-PARE THE USE OF OBJECTS TO EXPERIENCE INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATIC DISEASES IN ORDER TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING THROUGH PERSPECTIVE- TAKING, WITH A FOCUS ON ENHANCING EMPATHY
Authors: T. C. Wilhelmer
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> People with chronic diseases often experience little sympathy towards their situation and are in many cases stigmatized. The deficiency of knowledge is one main problem that leads to said lack of understanding. For people with RMDs this leads to the exclusion from social life and has a negative impact on their mental health. To reverse this trend, more innovative methods are needed to promote understanding in society as well as in the personal environment of people with debilitating diseases. This abstract presents a Master-Thesis in the field of Intermedia, created by a Student with an RMD. The paper examines existing methods for communicating understanding of chronic illnesses through media using scenography. It assesses which methods of communication can be used to increase empathy towards physically disabled people and thereby improve their inclusion in society. Using the findings of this research, the student created a concept for a public exhibition. <h3>Objectives</h3> Promote empathy towards disabled and chronically ill people. Educate adults in their function as role models for children, to improve early inclusion. Achieve a long-term change in society, to foster inclusion of persons affected by an RMD in society. <h3>Methods</h3> Examples of different performances of illness and their impact on those affected are gathered and discussed. The analysis contains aspects of the communicative methods that have not yet been researched or sufficiently explored. In the field of rheumatic diseases there are not many innovative methods to educate society about the psychosocial impact that an RMD has on the person affected. Existing materials are mainly targeting patients or their close ones. Public campaigning primarily focuses on medical facts. Research shows that immersive experience is more effective in educating than reading, hearing, or viewing information. The combination of facts and an immersive experience strengthens the learning effect and can have a sustainable impact on people's behaviour. Through immersive experience, there is a possibility to build and strengthen empathy. These factors are significant for the structure of the exhibition. <h3>Results</h3> The concept of the exhibition is based on existing best practice examples and researched methods. The Visitors are confronted with the topic of chronic diseases in an immersive way. The exhibition is sequenced to first get the visitor's attention by vision, followed by the possibility to physically get in touch with the exhibition's artefacts that imitate various symptoms. For instance, they can try on splints or sit on a manipulated chair. The elaborated concept is enclosed within the original thesis, to present the path of experience with the contents. The developed artefacts were tested and are based on several interviews for their suitability and their effectiveness. Their relevance was confirmed. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Research underpins the need for innovative methods to promote understanding of people with RMDs. Considering research, the developed concept with a combination of facts and immersive experience is likely to be successful in strengthening empathy towards chronically ill people. The design of the mobile exhibition is scalable. The concept is gladly shared with other patient organisations and is ready to be put into reality. <h3>Reference</h3> [1]Wilhelmer Tanita-Christina (2022): "The use of objects to experience inflammatory rheumatic diseases in order to increase knowledge and understanding through perspective- taking, with a focus on enhancing empathy." URL: https://opus.fhv.at/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/4610/file/Masterthesis_Wilhelmer.pdf <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.